KB Home (NYSE:KBH), one of the nation's largest and most recognized homebuilders, today announced a new collaboration with its longtime partner, Whirlpool Corporation, in which the company will become the first national homebuilder to offer the manufacturer's innovative line of Whirlpool brand "smart" appliances to homebuyers at KB Home Design Studios. An initial offering will make Whirlpool's 6th Sense Live refrigerators and dishwashers available to KB homebuyers in all of KB Home's communities and Design Studios in Southern California. The companies are planning a nationwide rollout throughout the rest of 2013 and into 2014, with laundry pairs of smart washers and dryers expected to be added in a future phase of the program.

Whirlpool's 6th Sense Live appliances enable homeowners to connect their refrigerator, dishwasher and laundry pair to the smart grid, track energy consumption and operate all of them from computers and mobile devices. The 6th Sense Live technology platform simplifies home appliance management with Smart Assistant features like Vacation Assistant, Remote Start/Pause and text messages. The appliances also deliver real-time information, such as what cycle the smart dishwasher is on, as well as energy rates and consumption. The appliances can even send alerts to consumers' smart phones and tablets, such as a warning if the refrigerator door is left open, which can help save energy and prevent food spoilage.

"Being the first to showcase and offer these cutting-edge 'smart' appliances again demonstrates KB Home's leadership in new home innovation and our commitment to delivering state-of-the-art technology to our homebuyers," said Jeffrey Mezger, president and chief executive officer of KB Home. "These products, like our homes, are designed first and foremost with the homeowner in mind--with the added bonus that they are among the most energy-efficient available today and can help our homeowners further reduce both their energy bill and their impact on the environment."

The offering of these new smart appliances underscores KB Home's continued focus on advancing new home building science technology and sustainability, as well as the builder's dedication to enhancing the homebuying experience for its customers. Earlier this year, the builder issued its sixth annual Sustainability Report highlighting its achievements in 2012 and its goals for 2013, which included improving its homes' energy efficiency and introducing new technology options. Already this year, KB Home has opened additional solar-standard communities as well as a new ZeroHouse 2.0 net-zero energy model home. In addition, all new KB homes now include an energy monitoring system and a USB outlet as standard features.

"Given our longstanding partnership, our decision to launch our smart appliance line in the production new home market with KB Home was a great choice," said Bob Bergeth, general manager of builder sales for Whirlpool Corporation. "We're two like-minded companies, always looking for the next big idea, the next thing that will make our customers lives' easier and better. Smart appliances are one of our most significant innovations yet, and we're confident the KB homebuyer will want to include them into their Built to Order new home."

For more information about KB Home, or to learn more about its Built to Order TM homebuying experience and sustainability initiatives, visit www.kbhome.com or call 888-KB-HOMES. For more information about Whirlpool Corporation and its new smart appliances, visit www.insideadvantage.com.

About KB Home

KB Home is one of the largest and most recognized homebuilding companies in the United States. Since its founding in 1957, the company has built more than half a million quality homes. KB Home's signature Built to Order TM approach lets each buyer customize their new home from lot location to floor plan and design features. In addition to meeting strict ENERGY STAR® guidelines, all KB homes are highly energy efficient to help lower monthly utility costs for homeowners, which the company demonstrates with its proprietary KB Home Energy Performance Guide® (EPG®). A leader in utilizing state-of-the-art sustainable building practices, KB Home was named the #1 Green Homebuilder in the most recent study by Calvert Investments and the #1 Homebuilder on FORTUNE magazine's 2011 World's Most Admired Companies list. Los Angeles-based KB Home was the first homebuilder listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and trades under the ticker symbol "KBH." For more information about KB Home's new home communities, call 888-KB-HOMES or visit www.kbhome.com.

KB Home
Craig LeMessurier, 925-983-4509
clemessurier@kbhome.com